First page

“First Night, First Fable.” The Nights of Straparola, Straparola, Giovanni Francesco, translated by Waters, W.G. (William George), London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894, pp. 11-20.

Tale Summary A wealthy Genoese by the name of Rainaldo Scaglia dies after leaving his beloved son Salardo all of his possessions, begging him to abide by 3 precepts: Never trust his wife with an important secret, nor adopt another man’s son, nor live in a state with unchecked powers...

First page

“Third Night, First Fable.” The Nights of Straparola, Straparola, Giovanni Francesco, translated by W.G. (William George) Waters, London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894, pp. 102-109.

Tale Summary King Luciano rules the island of Capraia, and has a single daughter named Luciana, age 10. The palace is opposite to the cottage of a widow, Isotta, and her son, Peter the Fool, a fisher-lad. The princess is taken with his antics, although he is irritated for being...

Husband reveals himself as human

“Second Night, First Fable.” The Nights of Straparola, Straparola, Giovanni Francesco, translated by Waters, W.G. (William George), London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894, pp. 55-65.

Tale Summary Gaelotto, noble King of Anglia, and his wife Ersilia are unable to conceive. The queen falls asleep in her garden and is visited by three faeries, who cast spells on her, making it so that she will conceive, that her son will be virtuous, but that he will...

Blue Beard with a Knife

“Blue Beard.” Old French Fairy Tales, Charles Perrault, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 126-137.

Tale Summary A rich gentleman called Blue Beard is unable to find a new wife due to his unusual beard and rumors about his missing wives. After lavishly entertaining a group of ladies, the youngest daughter of a noble lady decides to marry him. He gives his wife a set...

Esben and the Witch

"Esben and the Witch." The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1897, pp. 258-273.

Tale Summary There is a family with 12 brothers, 11 who are strong and able and the youngest, a small but smart. One day the 11 oldest wish to make their fortune in the world, and so they ask for a white horse and gold from their aging father and...

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast. New York: McLoughlin Bro's, 1891.

Tale Summary The tale begins with a wealthy family consisting of a father and his three daughters. The eldest two daughters were vain and haughty while Beauty was sweet and selfless. After many years, bad fortune struck the family and they lost all their wealth. While her sisters complained about...

Ink Illustration of a queen kneeling in the forest eating a bud at the base of a tree.

“The Princess in the Chest.” The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1897, pp. 57-72.

Tale Summary Although it is modified for children, this version of The Princess in the Chest closely follows the typical narrative arc of this tale type. The tale begins with a king and queen who cannot have children. Instructed by a wise woman, the queen has a daughter, but the...

Illustration of the Prince leaning over Sleeping Beauty

Brothers Grimm. "The Sleeping Beauty." Grimm’s Fairy Tales, illustrated by Walter Crane and E. H. Wehnert, Chicago: Donohue, Henneberry & Co., 1896.

Tale Summary The story begins with a frog announcing that the king and queen will have a child in a year’s time. After the birth, the king holds a great feast, inviting twelve of the thirteen wise women in his kingdom to gain favor for the child. After eleven of...

Red Riding Hood

Crane, Walter. Little Red Riding Hood, London: John Lane, 1898.

Tale Summary This tale is a retelling, though the story clearly follows the usual Little Red Riding Hood narrative arc found in both the Perrault and Grimm versions of the tale. Little Red Riding Hood leaves her mother's house to visit her grandmother, meeting the wolf along the way. The...

The Maiden and the Angel

Brothers Grimm. “The Maiden without Hands.” Grimm’s Household Fairy Tales, translated by Ella Boldey, with illustrations by R. André, New York: McLoughlin Bros., 1890, pp. 150-154.

Tale Summary The tale begins with an old man, the antagonist, who approaches a poor miller about an exchange for wealth for what is standing behind the mill (the miller was unaware that his daughter was standing behind the mill). Three years later the old man came to claim his...

Pages